Valedictory Address

“Valedictory Address—Werner Disselkamp”(28 May 1992):1-3. (UA Case 68, Box 1)

Members of the platform party, honored guests, fellow graduates, professors, parents, friends, Mom, Dad, Vera and Barb.

It makes me feel very special to have the opportunity to address this year’s graduating class today.

For the next ten minutes, I would like to share with you some of my own thoughts about life at UNB, family, friendships and the challenges lying ahead of us.

I remember moving to Fredericton in 1985 from Germany with my family. I did not know very much English and obviously had a very hard time to understand people. I remember how a friend of mine in high school told me that my mother “dresses me funny.” So, naturally I walked home that day to tell my mom about this and found her to be quite upset. A few days later, I realized that it was only a joke. I guess one should have an open mind and not take everything that is being said literally.

I can definitely say that this was one of the many things I learned here at UNB over the last four years. Obviously, all of us had some special experiences here at UNB and I would like to mention some of these. We should look back and…

• Remember what it was like in our first year when we realized that it was up to us whether we passed or failed.



• Remember all of the friends we’ve made.



• Remember what it was like to live in residence or in an apartment and to do your own laundry.



• Remember the many times we wished we had mom’s great home cooking instead of Beaver Food or our own.



• Remember the times we pulled all nighters just so we would know everything for that 9 a.m. exam.



• Remember the times we met students from overseas, realizing that we are all alike but we just look different and have a different culture.



• Remember how difficult it must have been for mature students to study while maintaining the happiness of a child or spouse.



• Remember the many different sports we played, the games we have lost and won.


• Remember walking to school on a rainy day, studying for an exam, and working part-time. Take time to be proud of the work you have accomplished here!



• Remember how difficult it was to study while your roommate had a party.



• Remember Last Class Bashes, eating a hot dog outside the Social Club and the times you went Beaver-bogganing.



• Remember the times you save your grocery money so you could go out on the weekend.



• Remember struggling to make an 8:30am class only to find out that it had been cancelled



• Remember the scholarship/bursary you received unexpectedly and all of the hard work you accomplished to deserve it.



• Remember the Mark Jeffrey Memorial Hockey game this year and all the efforts a special person like him put into UNB.



• Remember your professors, coaches, roommates, classmates, teammates and other people you met.



• Remember calling professors by their first name such as Bob, Dan or Ellen.



• Remember dancing to Ujamma’s music.



• Remember calling professors, coaches, roommates, classmates, teammates and other people you met.



• Remember your involvement in extracurricular activities such as AIESEC, the Student Union, the Orientation Committee, The Brunswickan and all the other clubs.



• Remember spending time in the computer lab and the printer didn’t work, but your paper was due in 10 minutes.

Personally, I remember the passing away of my mother two years ago and how it changed my outlook on life. I realized it was not the A+ or the B- that helped me to deal with this challenge, but friends such as Chris, Longin, Kevin, or Peter.

All of us will, from now on, be confronted with much greater challenges and will need support from good friends such as—the friends we have made here at UNB.

I suggest, that you take time today to exchange addresses with the people you would like to keep in touch with.

Fellow Graduates, I also believe that we are now entering a new stage in our lives where we will be confronted with issues that are much greater than in the past. Business, society and government expect us to take challenges seriously and to contribute through our knowledge we have gained here at UNB.

We cannot neglect important issues such as:

• the environment,



• the stability and unity of Canada,



• AIDS,



• world peace,



• increased world population,



• the devastation of natural resources, which is something of particular importance to us here in Canada,



• international competitiveness,



• and most importantly, finding a job.

I know that these issues that we do not like to hear about or talk about, but we should go a step further and ask ourselves how we would be able to tackle some of these challenges. Doing so might give our lives direction.

In other words, look for opportunities created by these challenges.

Perhaps this could mean teaming up with students from other faculties so jobs can be created. For example, it would make sense for an engineering or science student to get together with a business student and start a company—maybe right here in New Brunswick. Perhaps the reason why we have a hard time to find jobs is because we expect others to have created jobs for us.

Let’s look for ways to created our own jobs!

But above all, I strongly believe that all of us will have to behave in a socially responsible way that will benefit all of society—especially our children because they will gain the most form our efforts.

However, for today, fellow graduates, I think we should enjoy ourselves, be proud of our accomplishments and have fun.

I would like to wish all of you the best luck in the future and hope to see you again at our reunions here at UNB.

Thank you very much.